ttgapers.com

Prime Minister Patrick Manning confirmed yesterday that United States president Barack Obama will be attending the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain in April. America’s 44th president would join 33 other world leaders expected to attend the three-day summit. Manning also said the Trinidad and Tobago Government remained fully committed to hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.

The Prime Minister made the announcements in Parliament in response to criticisms levelled against the Government’s decision to host the upcoming event.

“This new leader in the White House (Barack Obama) has enunciated the need for the kind of diplomacy which brings people together,” Manning said. “Some two months after, it will be the first multilateral forum in our hemisphere at which he will have the opportunity to interact with his counterparts on issues affecting us all.

“We are, therefore, extremely honoured he will grace our shores to share, for the first time, his vision and hope for the future of the hemisphere. “The US, like the rest of the world, recognises partnerships are vital to dealing with economic, security, energy and environmental challenges.” Manning also said the prospects for a new engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean must not be downplayed. “The Government remains fully committed to the successful hosting of these two conferences,” he said.

Benefits for Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM

Manning said he saw the summits as an opportunity to move Trinidad and Tobago centre stage; by engaging in higher levels of bilateral and multilateral co-operation. “The obvious gain is of a political nature, as a relatively small country such as Trinidad and Tobago has a strategic opportunity to host the presidents and prime ministers of this hemisphere and the Commonwealth to discuss pressing priorities against the backdrop of current international developments,” he said.

Manning also said the Government understood the importance of these events for Caricom member countries. “We have promoted the Fifth Summit as a Caricom effort, and will use the opportunity to bring to the forefront of the Inter American and Commonwealth agendas, development issues that are relevant to the realities of our small states,” he said.

Manning said it would also be an opportunity to bring to the fore, development issues. “Trinidad and Tobago is poised at this crucial time in our development to facilitate the kind of dialogue with two important groupings of countries that will provide expanded opportunities for wealth creation, alliances, business partnerships, poverty reduction, job creation, skills development, border security and crime prevention,” he said.

Manning said it would give leaders the opportunity to talk to one another and to understand the economic, social and political benefits of all countries.He also said the international media would be in Trinidad in full force and that would give an “unprecedented opportunity for Trinidad and Tobago to be showcased internally.”